Sacramento State women’s soccer will resume Big Sky Conference play this week as the Hornets travel to face Portland State on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. Sunday’s contest will begin five-consecutive games of conference play for Sacramento State. The Hornets hold a 5-1 advantage in the all-time series over the Vikings.

In the Hornets’ last meeting with Portland State, forward Lisa Wrightsman recorded two goals and one assist to lead Sacramento State to a 4-1 win over the Vikings at Hornet Soccer Field. The Hornets got on the board first in the 17th minute as Wrightsman took a pass from teammate Summer Douglas and toed it over the reach of Portland State keeper Gretchen Peitras. The Vikings answered back in the 31st minute as Melanie Langley rebounded a deflection in front of the Hornet goal to make it a 1-1 contest at the half. Lori Kerswell gave Sacramento State the lead for good in the 53rd minute after Wrightsman placed a pass around Peitras on the right side of the goal. Dana Dydasco added an unassisted goal in the 77th minute and Wrightsman ended the scoring with her second goal of the contest in the 79th minute.

Last week, Portland State was shut out by New Mexico, 2-0, to snap its longest winning streak (four) since 1993.

Head Coach Karen Hanks

After establishing Cal State Dominguez Hills as one of the strongest NCAA Division II programs in the country, Karen Hanks will look to continue her success with the Hornets as she becomes the second coach women’s soccer in Sacramento State history (1994-present).

In seven years with the Toros, Hanks recorded a 93-36-13 overall record and a 62-17-5 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The 13th winningest active Div. II coach in the nation, Hanks guided the Toros to four-consecutive CCAA titles (1995-98) and four NCAA Div. II Women’s Soccer Tournament appearances (1997-99, 2001). She also guided the Toros to the 1997 NCAA semifinals and was named 1997 NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year. Hanks also earned CCAA Coach of the Year honors in 1995 and 1996.

A Look at Last Week

Last week, the Hornets fell to Northern Arizona, 3-2, in a Big Sky Conference match at Lumberjack Stadium on Oct. 4. Sacramento State got on the board quickly as senior forward Lisa Wrightsman found the net in the first minute of play. For Wrightsman, it was her third goal of the season. Junior Kara Narimatsu gave the Hornets a 2-0 advantage at the half with her unassisted goal in the 28th minute.

NAU answered back in the second half when Brandy Johnson shot a bicycle kick past goalkeeper Nicole Yoshimura off an assist by Adria Barchi. The Lumberjacks evened the score when Barchi scored six minutes later in the 61st minute of the match off an assist by Karla Rogers. Northern Arizona scored the final goal of the contest when Rogers found Cristiano in the 87th minute.

In other action, Sacramento State fell to No. 7 Wake Forest on Oct. 6, 3-0.

The Wright Stuff

Senior Lisa Wrightsman, one of three captains on the squad, currently leads the team with seven points and three goals. Wrightsman, a native of Elk Grove, Calif., scored two of her three goals within the first minute of each match. Wrightsman also leads the team with 35 shots(20 shots on goal) and a .571 on-goal percentage.

Wrightsman, the only senior of the team, has made her mark on Sacramento State soccer by ranking third in the Hornet record book with 19 goals and 41 points. Wrightsman is also ranked second in the season record book with 12 goals (2000) and fourth in total points per season with 25 (‘00). She needs only two goals and seven points to surpass Jessica Mackiewicz.

Notables

Sacramento State is 2-1 when playing at Portland State...freshman midfielder Linda Sanchez and Lisa Wrightsman hold the No. 3 and No. 4 spots in the Big Sky Conference for shots average per game with 3.18 and 2.82, respectively.